With less than a month remaining until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, defending champion Lionel Messi has surprised fans with a brutally honest assessment: Argentina is not the clearest favorite to lift the trophy this time around.
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A Tougher Title Defense
Speaking in an interview on the YouTube channel “Lo del Pollo,” the Inter Miami CF superstar stated that while Argentina is undoubtedly strong enough to compete for the title, several other national teams currently possess more intimidating squads and better overall form. According to Messi, the journey to successfully defend their crown will be significantly fiercer than their magical run in Qatar four years ago.
Even at 38 years old, Messi remains the undisputed heartbeat of the Argentine squad. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he famously carried La Albiceleste to global glory with a sensational individual performance, registering 7 goals and 3 assists. He has continued to prove his enduring class in the current MLS season, notching 9 goals and 3 assists in his first 11 matches as Inter Miami’s captain.
Identifying the True Threats
Despite his elite form, Messi is acutely aware that securing back-to-back world titles is a monumental task. He specifically highlighted France as the biggest overarching threat to Argentina at this moment. The French squad, according to Messi, boasts a frighteningly deep talent pool and world-class quality at every position.
Beyond France, Messi also rates Spain and Brazil incredibly highly. While acknowledging that Brazil has recently gone through a period of instability, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner warned that the Seleção is always a formidable force at major tournaments due to their sheer individual quality.
Rounding out his list of primary contenders, Messi pointed to Germany, England, and Portugal as teams fully capable of halting Argentina’s title defense. He specifically praised Portugal for nurturing a highly talented and hyper-competitive new generation of players.
The Rise of Tuchel’s England
Among the European heavyweights, England has emerged as an exceptionally dangerous candidate under the guidance of head coach Thomas Tuchel. The “Three Lions” won all of their qualifying matches while maintaining a flawless defensive record, becoming the very first European nation to complete a qualifying campaign with such absolute perfection.
Belief among English supporters is surging as they hope this squad can finally end a grueling World Cup drought that dates back to 1966. Following the Gareth Southgate era, Tuchel—who brings elite pedigree from his time conquering club football with Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich—is heavily backed to elevate England to unprecedented modern heights.
A Champion’s Mentality
Despite listing a gauntlet of elite challengers, Messi firmly declared that Argentina will fight until the very bitter end. For the legendary number 10, the South American giants step onto the pitch at every single tournament armed with an unwavering winning mentality, regardless of how terrifying the opposition might be.
